Happy Birthday Danielle

Today is your 26th birthday my darling daughter Danielle. You have grown in to a beautiful young woman, and I am proud of you and who you have become.

I remember the summer before you were born. You were due August 26 but decided since there was free food and a soft place to sleep that you would come out later. Funny that you still have this same mentality today!! LOL

When I was in labour (yup - 36 hours) it felt like it would never end. I remember saying to your Dad-"I am going to die-you will have to care for the other girls on your own". He told me later that he was trying not to laugh because I was so serious and so cranky!! After you were born I cried for hours thinking I had the most beautiful and perfect baby ever born on this Earth. Many of the nurses and doctors cried too because I was so happy. I kept saying "look how perfect she is".

You were such a happy baby and you were a happy go lucky toddler. You learned everything so quickly and your sisters loved you very much. One day after Sunday School you announced that you learned how to spell God. We eagerly encouraged you to spell it and you loudly and proudly said "D O G". We laughed our hearts out and asked you to spell it out for everyone we knew. My goodness we were mean!!

When you started school you wanted to learn everything there was to learn in one day. At the parent teacher interview your teacher told me that you rummaged through her garbage daily looking for blank work sheets that you could bring home to work on!! You were so desperate to learn that you would read the encycopedia and copy all the words on the page (grade one). You would sit beside me on the couch and read a magazine. One day you said (and looking as nonchalant and grown up as you could) "mom look I am reading a mesageen". (translated-magazine). I laughed until I almost peed myself. To this day we tease you about reading mesageens.

You loved your two younger sisters and carried them around like they were your dolls. You taught them to read, tie their shoes, learn the alphabet and many other wonderful things. To this day they are very close to you.

Teaching you to drive almost turned me grey. Danielle you were the WORST driver ever. I feared for my life on many occasions during the driving lessons. Do you remember mixing up the gas and brake peddle while learning to park and hitting the chain link fence? Do you remember mixing up the gas and brake peddle while backing out of our driveway and when you realized it you hit the gas with all your weight while we were going backwards down the road at top speed? Yup-that one nearly did me in. When you finally stepped on the brake-I told you to pull back in the driveway and I went in the house and cried I was so scared. You have gotten better over the 10 years you have driven!

I am proud of you for accomplishing your goal of obtaining a BA and then an MA. You work hard and are well respected in your place of employment. You are a wonderful and dependable friend and employee. You are the best sister ever and an amazing daughter. How did I get so blessed? I wish you all the joy, happiness and blessings possible for your life. Thank you for being you!